Tennis Elbow and Golfer's Elbow

We’ve all done our share of home improvements which can often leave our muscles aching. Painting, racking, hammering are some of the repetitive work that can sometimes leave our backs aching and more often then not leave us with sore elbows. For most it usually clears up after a few days of rest.  But for a lot of people, the pain doesn’t go away, and they eventually have to go in for treatment.

The elbow pain is due to inflammation of the muscles and tendons that attach the lower arm bones to the upper arm. As the muscles become strained or over-used, they become inflamed, painful and tender to touch.

Pain that is located on the external portion of the elbow is called lateral epicondylitis or more commonly known as tennis elbow.  Golfer’s elbow is quite similar to tennis elbow except the inflammation occurs on the inside of the elbow, around the bone called the medial epicondyle.

Symptoms of Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow

• Difficulty with movements such as gripping, lifting and carrying
• Pain and tenderness either on the outside of the elbow (tennis elbow) or on the inside of the elbow (golfer’s elbow)
• Pain that radiates down the arm toward the wrist
• Difficulty extending the forearm

Acupuncture is an effective therapy for reducing pain and improving function in an arm afflicted with this inflammatory condition. Tendonitis of the elbow is very common and acupuncture is effective in 90% of cases.

Acupuncture treatment involves feeling around the elbow for tender points and needling them. Normally nothing is felt as the acupuncture needle goes in, it is the 'feeling around' which causes the most discomfort! Acupuncture stimulates the area to reduce inflammation by increasing the body’s immune response to the local region. Treatment plans generally range from 6-10 sessions from 1-2 times a week depending on the severity of the condition. Acupuncture is a great natural alternative to relieving and preventing elbow pain.